Much more than a decorative outline to garment seams or pillow edges, piping can ease the strain on finished fabric seams subject to much wear or minimize abrasion of seam edges on much used pillows or sofa cushions adding strength to seams and curvy corners as well.

Free motion sewing is a machine stitching technique that replicates hand embroidery and monogramming, useful for darning, quilting, embellishing and thread art. It is surprisingly easy to do by following just a few techniques.

Needles and pins were once so valuable that women may have had just one fine needle with which to do all their hand sewing. Pincushions, keeping pins and needles secure, were often made of pewter or silver in decorative shapes to display on fireplace mantels - thought to bring good luck to the home.

A serger - versatile companion to a sewing machine, is all about its loopers, tension discs, knife blades, feed dogs, many thread cones and specialty presser feet. The resulting neatly trimmed and overcast seam produced by a serger is a sewing time saver.

With a few common-sense considerations, sewing a dress for Prom will make for enduring high school memories. While the sewing itself is much the same as for all sewing projects, the lustrous unique fabrics often chosen for the dress can present challenges.

Floral print fabrics have always announced the arrival of spring. A spring must-have, the adaptable tote bag is coming into its own as a style-conscious accessory and can be made fresh and new for this year using textiles printed in all the glorious colors in vogue for this season.

Sock monkeys, raggedy dolls, bunnies and bears, oh my! Sewing huggable stuffed toys for children for gift-giving or just-because is a delightful, surprisingly satisfying undertaking and serves as a message of love and caring to the recipient.